Portable guard



p 0 1952 A. L. DILLON ETAL 2,611,909

' PORTABLE GUARD Filed Afiril 15,4947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INYENTOR A. L. DILLON H. w o'sHEApR ATTORNEY Sept. 30, 1952 A. DILLO N ETAL PORTABLE GUARD Filed April 15, 1947 R O T N E V m A. DILLON H. w o' sHEApR.

' ATTORNEY Sept. 30, 1952 A. DILLON ETAL PORTABLE GUARD 3 S heets-S heet 3 Filed April 15, 1947 INVENTOR A. L. DILLON H. W. O'SHEAQR.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1 :0, 1952 PORTABLE GUARD Annie Lee Dillon, Raleigh, and Horace- William OShea, J r'., Durham, N. C., assignors to Fence- Me-In, 1110., Raleigh, N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application April 15, 1947, Serial No. 741,622

9 Claims. (CI. 331) This invention relates to household furniture and more particularly to a collapsible bed guard for confining or limiting the movement of an individual, particularly an infant or small child, including the prevention of accidental falling from a substantially horizontal surface of an object, such as a bed, divan, seat or the like, in the home, in a vehicle or elsewhere.

Various methods have been employed in an attempt to prevent occupants falling from beds, divans, chairs, vehicle seats or other substantially horizontal surfaces. Frequently chairs or other articles of furniture have been placed against the side of the bed or other structure. However, due

to the fact that the chairs or the like would slide when rolled against or contacted the desired result was not satisfactorily obtained. Other devices have been employed all of which have been subject to criticism for one reason or another.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive device which can be easily manufactured, readily applied or removed and simply or compactly folded or collapsed for storage ortransportation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device .which can be manufactured of wood,

metal, plastic or other desired material and can be used with 'a bed, divan, chair, automobile or other vehicle seat, in or out of an automobile, or a device'which can be used as a play pen or other confining structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that can also be used as a fence in a door or passageway.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which when used with portions in opposed relation, such portions may be employed for supporting a tray, table, or other structure.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a frame or body which may itself consist of a plurality of parts, such as, for example, telescopic sections, or it may consist of a single body usable with others to form the complete device usable numerous ways to restrain movement. The invention contemplates the utilization of'duplicate sections, one or more of which may be used on the side of a bed or other horizontal object, limit ing movement on such bed or object, particularly accidental falling from the bed, or three or more of these duplicate sections may be joined to devise a restraining area usable as a play pen or the'like.

The invention further contemplates structure for anchoring the device in place while in use, a devicewhich can be readily collapsed into a small package for transportation. or storage, which for example has multiple sections hinged together and also having feet hinged thereto and such feet being adapted to be inserted between the springsand the mattress of a bed, a support for maintaining the main body of the device in an upright position on a horizontal surface, etc.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following specifica- Fig. 3, a transverse section through an end portion of the bed guard taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 8, and with phantom-lines illustrating the path taken by the foot .when folded toward the standard;

Fig. 4, a perspective of several guards arranged to provide an enclosure or play pen;

Fig. 5, a perspective of a conventional chair showing the manner in which a guard may be applied thereto;

Fig. 6, a fragmentary View of the interior of automobile illustrating the manner in which a guard may be applied to the seat thereof;

Fig. 7, a horizontal section through a doorway with the expandible type guard in operative p0 -v sition.

Fig. 8, an elevation of fragmentaryportions of I a pair of guard sections illustrating an improved hinge for operatively connecting the sections; 1 i Fig. 9,'an exploded perspective of a modified arrangement for connecting a supporting" foot j with the upright portion of a guard for'holding the guard;

Fig. 9a, a perspective of the parts of Fig. 9

assembled relation; I, Fig. 10, an elevation of. a modified formjof guard in extended position;

Fig. 11, a similar view with the deviceof Fig. 7

10 in collapsed or retracted position;

Fig. 12, a perspective of a fragmentary portion of the guard device shown in Fig. 10 showing the manner in which various telescopically associated" portions of a rail member cooperate to render the device extensible and contractable; Fig. v13, an enlarged transverse section on'th line l3-l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14, an enlarged transverse section onlthef line I4M of Fig/12;

Fig. 15, an elevation of a further modified form of guard;

Fig. 16, a longitudinal section on the line l6".l6

of Fig. 15;

Fig. 1'7, a transverse section on the line. I 1 -Il of Fig. 15; and

;Fig. 18, a fragmentary elevation, of a pair of further modified guard sections illustrating the manner in which they are connected,

Witha continued reference tof-the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the.

lar units may be applied, one to each side of the bed, as shown in Fig. 1, if neither side of the bed is near a wall. When two similar units are used, as described, and if desired, a bed trayand table T may be supported on the upperedges:

at said units at the convenience of 'an'occupant of the bed.

The guard may be formed of--.twoor more-secs. tions, each of which has a pair of transverse,

stakes or standards, It for the left handtransverse standard, and H for the right hand standard'ofthe same-section; anda plurality of spaced substantially parallel railmembers 12. 'The rail members--12 am-rigidly connected-at their ends to the stakes I or standards i8 and I I preferably byha-ving-theirend portions fitted into transverse slots provided in the standards. Each pair of standards and their associated -rai1 members constitute-a rigidsectional unit' which may be used in "conjunction with one or more similar unitsor; in some'instances, may-be used separately, as will later appear.

Foriuse-as abed guard two adjacent standard members aresecuredtogether by-a pair of hinges l'e so thattwo'sectionsmay be placed in end to end operative relationship, as shown in Fig. 1, or maybe folded to a substantially superimposed condition; as shown in Fig. 2. In Fig.- 2 the device is shown as folded and also inverted to facilitate carrying it. Respectivesupporting foot members l4 are connected to the bottom ends vo'f standards [0 and H byconventiona-lhinges I5. lioclgingpins I8; (Fig. '3) are slidablein longitudinal 'groovesfl provided in the lower end portions of the standards I0 and: H andjthrough aperturesin t-he endiportions of the supporting.

members in their operative position in whichfthey, are disposed substantially perpendicular to the respective standards, 'When thepins are withdrawnthefoot members may be folded to a positipryalongsideflthe corresponding standards and will be maintained in this position of their own weight when the ,device is inverted asshown in Fig. 2;

The supportingfoot members are tapered in a manner such that their thickness decreases in a direction away from the hinge-connectionsto facilitate inserting thev members beneatha .bed mattress or under a seat or chair cushion and are provided with respective apertures [8 through which pegs or pins l9 may be inserted toengage thesprings of a bed to rigidly secure the guard inoperative association with thebed, as shown in Fig. 1.

"The'hinges l3 may be conventional butt hinges,

as stated above, or may be'gatetype hinges as illustrated in Fig: 8. In this case one of the hingebutts 2D has the corresponding end portion of the hinge pin 21 secured therein and the'other hinge ,.butt ,22 has a loop or eye portion slidable over the'hinge pin so that the'two adjoining sectipns may be united by slipping the butt portions 22 over the pins carried by the butt portions and may be separated by merely lifting one seetionrelativeto the other. The hinges may additionally'be'provided with locking means to hold the two sections in a substantially straight end to end'relationshin'suchlocking means comprising notches 23 provided in the pinreceiving por- 4 tion of the butt 2|] and dogs 24' on the corresponding end of the pin receiving. portion of the butt 22 engageable in the corresponding'notches to lock the hinges in fully opened position.

If it is desired to have a small child remain in a chair, one section of a guard unit may be separated from any associated sections and the supporting foot-members thereof may be inserted under the cushion25 of a chair 26, as illustrated in-Fig.'5, to formagate across the front or open end of the chair so that an infant or small child may be placedin the chair without danger of its falling out.

A single section mayalso be used to provide a suitable guard for a portion of the front of an=automobile seat 2l, one of' the supporting foot members being inserted under the 'seat'cu'shion 28 to maintain'the'guard section in upright operative position along the openior-front edge ofthe cushion. With this arrangement an infant'orsmall "child may-be comfortably and conveniently carried in-an automobile and may sleepon the cushion without danger offallin'g or being thrown from the seat.

A single section or a complete un'it folded to'-- gather-may also be usedas a-gate for-adoorw'ay 29 as shown in Fig. 7 the expandible type-guard being used for this purpose and when so used the door 41 overlies the foot 46. As doorways, however,-vary in width, it may be found'desirabl'etouse for this purpose the expandable form of guard, particularly illustrated in Figs. IO to 14,-

inclusive, presently to be described.

While it has been found convenientto attach the supporting foot members M to the corresponding standards by hinges,these membersmay be-attached'by other means-without inany way exceeding the scope 'ofth'e invention.- For example, as shown in Fig. 9, a supportingioot' .member I4 may be provided-at'its thicker-end with an extension 30 of dovetail cross sectional shape which extension may fit into fa dovetail notch 3| provided in the lower end portion of the corresponding standard In and may be secured the notch against accidental displa'cementxby "a pivoted button 32 which may be turned from its inoperative position shown at the left handfside,

of Fig. 9 to its operative position shown at the right hand side of this composite figure.

magnesium alloy of sufficient thicknessi'to pro:

vide the necessary strength and rigidity, andfthe.

rails 34 are preferably in theform .ofcha'nnel members as is particularly shown in Fig. 12.1A

first inner'rail extension 35 of hollow or C-shaped cross section is telescopically associated with the rail 34 "and a second .inner rail extension [36 of channelshaped or 'holl'owcross section is tale,

.scopically associated with the extension.35.i Pins 31 and 38 secured in the extension 35 extend through corresponding elongated slots39 and dfl'" in the flangesof the railj-M to guide the exten-- sion35 in the rail 34 and limit slidingmovements of the extension relative to the rail. These pins are provided in the portions thereofrecei-ved the slots with spring presseddetents ii-whichengage in recesses provided in the, slots near the ends thereof to releasably maintain theextension. '35 in either its extended position relative to the" rail 34,as' shown in Figs. 10 and 12 or its retracted position; as shown in Fig. 11. A pin 42 fixed in the web portion'of the extension 36 extends into an elongated slot 43 provided in the web of the first extension 35 to guide the extension 36 relativeto the extension 35 and limit relatively slidthe condition shown in Fig. 11 in which the stand-' ard'33" lies against the standard 33' the total length of the device then being. only slightly greater than the distance from'the standard 33 to the standard 33' and may be pulled out or expanded to the condition shown in Fig. 10 in which extended condition it is nearly three times as long as when in its collapsed or retracted posi tion..

As'stated above, this entire device is preferably made of light metal castings or stampings to pro vide a strong serviceable light weight unit.

When the unit is used to provide a gateway for a door, as indication in Fig. 7, it is placed between the door jams 29 and pulled out until it spans the space between the door jams. With the supporting foot members 46 in their operative position, the device is firmly secured in the doorway and will prevent the passage of an infant or small child through the doorway even though the door 41 is left open.

In the further modified arrangement shown in Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive, the standards 48 are preferably provided as sheet metal stampings of channel shaped cross section and may be formed of a light weight non-corrosive metal such as aluminum. These standards are secured to the opposite ends of a rail member 49 which may be conveniently formed of a rectangular piece of sheet metal having elongated spaced apertures 50 provided therein. These sections may be formed, however, as integral rail and standard portions without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention. The member 49 is preferably flanged around its marginal edges and around each of the apertures such flanges being formed by the marginal portion of the metal being turned at right angles to the body portion of the same and to therefore bring the contiguous portions of the metal together to give it adequate strength and stiffness, and to provide rounded edges therefor, and the standards are provided at their bottom ends with supporting foot members as is particularly shown in Fig. 1'7 a hinge 53 connecting the members 48 and 5|. Two standards and a rail member 49 with the two corresponding supporting foot members constitute a complete section and sections may be hinged together as shown in Fig. 18 by suitable hinges 52 to provide a guard unit of the desired length.

The modified sheet metal unit shown in Figs.

15 to 18, inclusive, is functionally similar to the wooden device shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, and is foldable in the same manner and may be used for the same purposes.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therfore' the invention is not limited 1' by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims. What is claimed isz' l.- A bed guard comprising secured to said standards, each comprising aplurality of telescopically associated'units slidable between a retracted position and an extended'-='-" paced substantially T parallel standards 3' a plurality of rail m position; means operatively connected between said telescopically associated rail units to limit the extent of relative sliding movement th'ere between; and spring'actuated means carried'by said movement limiting means operative toref leasably maintain said telescopically ass'ociate c'l' rail units in either their extended or their tracted position relative'to each other.

2.'A collapsible guard comprising a plurality 5 of sections operatively associated to be disposed in extended position or in collapsed position, each of said sections comprising 'asubs'tantiallyflat body portion, means on each section for engagemerit with a cooperating memberon 'a'n'adj'oi'n ing section, supporting foot means constructed 1 to support each section in operative position with said foot means substantially at right angles to said body, and means substantially within one of said sections for locking said-footmean's in such latter position.

body and constructed tofsupport'said' body in operative position withsaidfoo't means disposed 5 substantially at right angles to said body, and locking means substantially within one of said sections for securing said foot means in operative position relative to said body. I

4. A device of thecharacter described comprising a relatively flat body adapted to be supported adjacent the edge of a horizontal surface to form a barrier, supporting foot means connected to said body and constructed to support said body in operative position with said foot means disposed substantially at right angles to said body, and locking means for securing said foot means in operative position relative to said body, said locking means being longitudinally movable relative to said body and to said foot means for locking said foot means in a definite position.

5. A device of the character described comprising a relatively flat elongated body adapted to be stood on edge adjacent a horizontal support to form a guard for preventing accidental gravitation from said support, supporting foot means pivoted to said body and movable from a position folded against the side of the body to a position substantially at right angles to the body, and means longitudinally movable associated with said body and engageable with said supporting foot means to releasably lock the latter in operative position substantially at right angles to said body.

6. A guard of the character described comprising an elongated relatively flat body, supporting feet pivoted to said body and swingable from a position folded against said body outwardly to a position at right angles thereto, said body comprising a plurality of relative fiat elongated portions joined in a manner to resemble a frame in appearance, said body having hinge elements at its ends for fastening engagement with correnei 'i g :thlneiese r e ts tw n va:p u saiglebodiesmaysbe connected;Lin.;end.-t .endre1ae=- tioneto. siefinean.-enclosurepamt-dooking;elements 0 substantially within the confinesiofi-saidebodyandhaving portions thereof in engagementiwithasaid Y teetiievr;-.- 1o,eki; 1g taidw feet in openative :position substantially; normal to thesplanez ofisaida body 7, 5A obed guarw comprising a 1 pair of sections operativelyiponneotedeto be aiisposed-inextended orgoollapsediposition, each of said sectionsf com-\- prising substantially parallel.Uspacedustandards.1-1

ands vrail.members-zconneotingesaid standards; supnqizting footimeans hingedlyuoonnected to: each stii-ndae'dadjacente the, Flower extremity thereof. ami movable from a superposeds position against .1. thei-innerttacerof :saidestandard to an extended operative position substantially. at rights-angles t thereto, the extremityof said-foot means underlying the, assoeiatedmstandard whensaid foot meanstisiginiextended position,mach-underlying extremity beingtprovided (with .an: aperture, and pimmeansz-slidably mountectupon the inner faceofteaohestandard for engagement withsaid. aperture.-mhen. -the foot means is- :inoperativet position to'veleasablytiockesaid foot means in said position.

8. 2A teoilapsible-sportable =guard com-prisinge substantially N'flat {rigid ibody portion 1 having at leastnnestandard (extending transversely beyond theeedge oft-said? body" -portion ra footwmember attached to the terminal portions of said, .stand-: and :and -havinga.- pivotal-,oonnectionq therewith, and-slacking means {substantially within the confines eofrtsaidwfoot member and having a portion thereof; in,aengagemerit with said foot member and holding it inwa, position substantiallynormal mama-plane? of said bodyt-portionw tesmcoiiapsible; DQZtablagiiMd :havingta vsub stantia-lly "flaterigid bod-y:withsstandardsoextende1 ing+ transversely beyond ethe-e-edgenof .the rsam'ew footanemher attachedrto =thetemnna1sportionsoir saidsstandardsseandi docking .means' extending throughsportions of-rsaidrstandardsrand,footmeme 1 bers-ior hold-ing them! ima .positiomsubstantiaiim normal-t0 t thes-planeof said.- ihodyzportions.

ANNIE; LEE-DILLONJ V .H0RACE-WILLIAM.O39HEA ,JRL=

T. REFERENCES QCITED"? Thes-foiiowing references *areaof recondni-n-tthe 1 

